Mobile Photography Interview A Day in the Life of Christine O Sobczak a Fine Art Mobile Artist from the United States
Welcome to our very exciting interview column on theappwhisperer.com. This section entitled “A Day in the Life of…” is where we take a look at some hugely influential, interesting, newcomers as well as accomplished individuals in the mobile photography and art world… people that we think you will love to learn more about. This is our 125th interview of the series. If you have missed our previous interviews, please go here.
Today we are featuring fine art mobile photographer, Christine O Sobczak from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.
We are sure you are going to enjoy this, if you would like to take part in our A Day in the Life interview series, please send an email to myself at Joanne@theappwhisperer.com and I will get back to you.
Christine O Sobczak
Contact Details
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?
I am a late night person. So, into bed around midnight and then I wake up around 7. Anyone who knows me, knows that my day always begins with my Starbuck’s mocha ( iced, triple shots, decaf, whole milk, no whip ).
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you like to head out and take photographs early on?
Since I consider myself a fine art photographer, I really don’t have a special time of day. However, I do get pulled into street photography at times. The moon, ocean and beautiful clouds, I can’t resist them. The majority of the objects in my images have been photographed by me. I am always aware of the kind of exterior, natural light that I need for clarity and file size when I shoot my material. I am attentive to the type of day, sunny, cloudy, and the light of the season (summer, fall, winter, spring).
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
How did the transition from traditional photographer to mobile photographer develop?
As an older student, after receiving my university degree in fine art/photography, I entered the world of (my terminology) a gallery artist. I worked many years in the traditional darkroom with silver paper which I hand coloured. As the materials for traditional, darkroom images diminished, I knew that I had to enter the digital world. I was going to purchase a professional, digital camera. Somehow, I began looking into mobile photography. The two names that were my first introduction into it were TheAppWhispherer and Daniel Berman.
I remember listening to Joanne interviewing Daniel Berman. I learned about which apps to use from Joanne Carter’s site. I bought a Samsung phone because it offered the highest number of megapixels for file size. I began editing on my first IPad (2). I printed my first manipulated photographs. It was magic, they printed up perfectly, and I was completely converted into mobile photography.
Joanne Carter’s weekly showcases gave me the push to develop my image making. And, I became involved in Roger Guetta’s delightful Abstract site on Facebook.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you like to download new mobile photography and/or art apps regularly?
I am very concerned about how an App affects my file size. So, I do tend to stay with what I know that will allow me to print large images.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
What is your preferred platform, Apple iOS, Android, Windows?
My Samsung Note 5 works for me because it creates large file sizes…And, if I edit a photograph on the phone, it bumps up my file size even larger. I will be purchasing a new smartphone soon. I am open to any one of them. I have tried the new IPhone’s portrait, macro type of lens and it was wonderful. My IPad Pro is my editing tool and I love it.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Would you consider changing platforms and why?
I am more sophisticated since my mobile photography obsession began so I am open to anything better…..
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
How often do you update your existing apps?
I always update my apps after IOS updates….Apple makes the updates very easy. The apps can become quirky if I don’t update them. What are your favourite photography/videography apps and why, what features do you look for in a new app?
The most important thing in an app is does it reduce the file size ! We are or maybe I am in desperate need of an education on boosting file sizes…..
BLENDER because I know how to use it
PHOTO TOASTER, it is disappearing but, it boosts my file sizes like magic
MONOVU, to dull my colours and add texture
MATTER, for alternative subject matter
SKYLAB, to add space elements,
LENS FX, cosmic elements
LENSLIGHT, cosmic elements
SNAPSEED, filters and texture, frames
ICOLORAMA, love tensor and scrape
GLAZE….which I haven’t used for awhile
Newer APPS….
PICSART, many challenges which are fun to take part in !
GHOST LENS , many filters
ADOBE MIX, very new for me
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Where’s your favourite place in the world for a shoot and why?
This is really boring….but, I shoot my objects from my front yard….plenty of sunlight, and shadow….depending on what I am looking for… I live near Lake Michigan and it’s cliffs. I love photographing from the cliffs. And, when I am in Florida who would not take advantage of ocean shots?
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Where do you like to upload your photographs to?
Flickr and Instagram . Flickr is in flux at this time. I prefer Instagram for that reason. I will have a website this year.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you use your mobile phone everyday to take images?
Yes, there is always something outside that may capture my attention. Or, I have some images that I need to take and stash away for future use.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you like to use external hardware products with your mobile device for image and video capturing, such as lenses, tripods, external storage and battery packs?
I have a serious battery pack for when I travel. I do have a tripod. I do not use any lenses. But, I do plan on taking a serious look at lenses when I purchase a new phone. I bought a Sandisk flash drive for my IPad Pro for storage.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you edit images on your mobile devices or do you prefer to use a desktop or laptop computer?
I only use my phone or IPad for editing. I do not own a laptop or a computer.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Where do you envisage your mobile photography passion will take you? Have you been involved with exhibitions?
I am in terrible need of organising myself and my ambitions. There are so/too many possibilities in this new application world, I need to settle myself into a more defined style.
Joanne’s Weekly showcases are a pleasure to find one of my images in. I was very happy to have three images included in Daniel Berman’s, Mobile Photography Awards, as honorable mentions this year. The FIPA award that I received from Andrea Bigiarini was a wonderful surprise…
I have images included on The Photo Review’s website…
Too many places and not enough time to work on images …..
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Where do you see the future of mobile photography?
It will have a permanent place in the world of historic art genres and photography. The creation of the applications, smartphones, and tablets, which made mobile photography possible, is unique unto itself.
We have entered a new era of creating images… I have seen some incredible, sophisticated masters using only these (mobile photography) tools.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
What do you think is the most popular area of mobile photography?
The separation of mobile photography images into art or street photography was a brilliant distinction. It is inclusive to everyone and both are equally popular…
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you think it is country Specific, are some nations more clued up?
I don’t have a complete grasp on this. I always think that I need to talk to some young, current photography students and understand what they have to say about this. I have felt that it is/was more popular in countries outside of the USA.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
If you could select a specification for a smartphone, what features would you select, photographically speaking?
Large file sizes, and a great night lens….
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?
If I had not found Joanne’s website, i would have purchased the professional digital camera. And, I would not have found this style of image making which fits my life’s rhythm perfectly.
I am extremely happy to produce the infinite possibilities of images through the use of Applications….
I learn every day from the global school of excellent image makers that have been gathered together through Joanne Carter and her intelligent, hard work.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Donating = Loving = TheAppWhisperer.com
TheAppWhisperer has always had a dual mission: to promote the most talented mobile artists of the day and to support ambitious, inquisitive viewers the world over. As the years passTheAppWhisperer has gained readers and viewers and found new venues for that exchange.
All this work thrives with the support of our community.
Please consider making a donation to TheAppWhisperer as this New Year commences because your support helps protect our independence and it means we can keep delivering the promotion of mobile artists that’s open for everyone around the world. Every contribution, however big or small, is so valuable for our future.
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
